Paul Burstow: The Government have today authorised the piloting of direct payments for health care, under powers in the Health Act 2009.
	This Government want to put patients at the heart of everything the national health service does. Direct payments, and personal health budgets more generally, have great potential to put patients in control, enable integration across health and social care, and improve outcomes.
	We have long supported the idea of personal health budgets, and we continue to support the pilot programme.
	The Department has initially authorised piloting of direct payments in eight primary care trusts (PCTs) within the personal health budget pilot programme. More will be authorised as soon as individual PCTs are ready and have in place suitable systems and safeguards. Approved pilot sites will be able to offer direct payments to people across a range of conditions and services, including continuing health care, a number of long-term conditions, mental health, learning disabilities, and end-of-life care.
	The personal health budget pilot programme involves around seventy PCTs across England. An independent evaluation will provide evidence on how personal budgets work and how to overcome the technical and cultural challenges involved. The evaluation is due to report in autumn 2012.
	The table shows the PCTs initially authorised to offer direct payments.
	
		
			 Lead PCT Conditions or services included in pilot 
			 Doncaster PCT Continuing health care and mental health 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT Continuing health care, end-of-life care, maternity, and mental health 
			 Central London (joint bid from Hammersmith and Fulham PCT, Kensington and Chelsea PCT and Westminster PCT) Continuing health care, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dementia, diabetes, and mental health 
			 Islington PCT Continuing health care (in limited circumstances, with expansion subject to further approval) 
			 Merseyside (Joint bid from Knowsley PCT, Liverpool PCT and Sefton PCT) Mental health 
			 Oxford PCT Continuing health care and end-of-life care 
			 Somerset PCT Children in transition to adult services, learning disabilities, long-term neurological conditions 
			 West Sussex PCT Carers of people who have recently been diagnosed with dementia, children in transition to adult services, continuing health care